Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 11: Taiwan’s President William Lai has pledged to uphold Taiwan’s self-governing status during a public address on National Day. Lai stated he would “uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty.” while maintaining “the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
Lai, who took office in May after being elected in January, is detested by Beijing, which calls him a “separatist”. Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a view Lai and his government reject.
The newly elected President Lai emphasised that the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinates to each other. He asserted that “On this land, democracy and freedom are growing and thriving. The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan”.
In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning said Lai’s speech “exposed his intransigent position”. She reiterated China’s stance that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same China and that reunification is inevitable.
Lai previously stated it was impossible for China to be Taiwan’s motherland, noting that Taiwan’s government was founded in 1911, before the current Communist regime of mainland China. He suggested that the Republic of China might be considered the motherland for Chinese citizens over 75 years old.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office responded by accusing Lai of escalating tensions with intentions of hostility and confrontation stating, “Lai Ching-te’s Taiwan independence fallacy is just old wine in a new bottle, and again exposes his obstinate stance on Taiwan independence and his sinister intentions of escalating hostility and confrontation,”. Despite his administration’s tone, Lai maintains his position of preserving the “status quo” between Taiwan and China.
Lai succeeded previous president Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic Progressive Party. Observers note that Lai’s public comments have gone further than those of his predecessor. However, Lai insists Taiwan has no need to declare independence, as it is already an independent sovereign nation never controlled by the People’s Republic of China.
